This certainly is one of the greatest Dark .Stars ever imho.
I always thought the height of the song was reached in early 1970 in these epic half hour versions through February at the Filmour East.
The jams that begin developing at the 19 minute mark are first, at around 23:30, is The 59th St Bridge Jam or 'Feelin Groovy Jam' from the Simon and Garfunkel song. Certainly the greatest and clearest example of this theme comes on 2/13/70.......
........... at 26:20, the band shifts into a jam they would soon stop doing in Dark Star but would become a staple in 1970 versions of Dancin in the Streets, a piece called 'The Tighten Up Jam', from a 1968 song of the same name (naturally)... Some have debated that it is actually Chicago's 'Beginnings' and this is probably as clear an example of their argument being correct as I have ever heard - they're basically playing the opening of that song here..I'd like to note however that most other times I have heard it and noted it, it sounds like Tighten Up to me, so go figure.....
Peace folks....

Pig Pen rocks on Lovelight, and dark star is immaculate

The Mix on this recording is outstanding. This makes the Dark Star so sick. The Eleven is real good too, but check out New Year's Eve 69, very unique version albeit a worse recording.

Gotta toot the horn with everybody on this one - easily one of the best Dark Stars I've ever heard (granted I am a new budding Deadhead). I'm not very familliar with pre-1972 Dead so much so hearing this was a revelation. From around the 23:00 on is some of the most beautiful and melodic playing from Jerry I've ever heard - even more shocking it's from such an older show!

Expressive and interesting spacey stuff in darkstar - then at 18:30 it reduces to a single cymbal, from there follows some lovely, melodic and spirited jamming with great playing all around. I love the turn at 23:09 - that progression is so awesome.
Everything else is great. Sound quality is very good too. I listen to this over and over.

the best dark star i've ever heard and ive literally listened to damn near everything dead out there.

I've listened to this show a few times and I really think that Duane Allman is playing from about the middle of the Darkstar on. Yet I see no mention of this anywhere. Anybody have any ideas or answers

Too bad the whole thing isn't here because what we have is pure gold. It's recorded very well and the Dark Star is one of those wonderful 1970 spacey, exploratory ones, really cool. St. Stephen and especially The Eleven are played with some rollicking enthusiasm and Lovelight is great and long. Only because this is a partial show does this get a 4 star rating.

T.C. has not left the band at this point. He will not leave until 26 January. Credit where it's due, I like Pig's organ, but that is definitely T.C. on Dark Star! Pig's style is different - you can hear it on Easy Wind on this date. Also T.C. playing in the William Tell Bridge.
Someone mentioned what sounds vaguely like the Franklin's Tower chord progression in the post-space jam... I hear that, and not long after, a Cosmic Charlie tease that no-one has mentioned. Can't say it's the best St. Stephen ever (no real jam), BUT the 11 is the best in ages! Haven't heard one with this much enthusiasm since Sep of 69 (I'm listening to all the shows in order). Glad they put some mojo back into it.
P.S. the rest of this date is also on archive, under another heading, this is just the last hour of the late show.

Great Sound quality, with some flaws, and one of the best Dark Stars. Check out the Uncle John Band teases around 20 min. of Dark Star. The setlist is completely wrong! It is Dark Star>St.Stephen>Lovelight.(And that is it)
Yet it is still 50 minutes of stellar Dead

This show is definitely worth listening to. Although it isn't listed in the set list, the Dard Star in this show is excellent, and the mix is very good throughout most of the show. 4++

I was struck enough in listening to this performance of Dark Star to leave a comment. I am not knowledgeable enough to comment specifically but the sound quality is excellent and the performance is moving. Thank you LIMA.

Hell yeah! What is here is amazing! Where is the rest of the show? Sound quality is stellar for this date! With about 11:30 left in Dark Star they go into a sweet jam that lasts a few minutes...looses steam...then gains momentum again. Then with about 7:10 left they go into another sweet jam with a new theme...I believe it's the same jam from Dicks' Picks Volume 2. But this version is a much younger one. Damn, what a sweet Dark Star!

Pig rules - But honestly does the rest of this deserve a 5, it's not even a complete show... I liked it very much but 5 is a reach.

The '7 1/2 reel master' source has the complete show.

As everyone says, download this show. Sound quality is superb though it wouldnt matter considering how wise the jamming is. For me personally this Dark Star is always in competition with 10-12-68's ... BUT the St. Stephen...NOT ONE VERSION compares to this one. After the break of "one man gathers what another one spills" - you can hear Pigpen's rarely audible organ-orgasm. Finally an audible version with that oh so little but oh so special ditty he plays. Yeah download it.

is absolutely right. This is indeed one of the best single-disc Dead shows ever. The epic Dark Star is one of the best of 1970--the post-verse jamming is superlative, the spacey portion especially eye-opening. Though there is a cut in St. Stephen, I really don't care--there is no jamming lost here. The Eleven is great, but the Lovelight especially RAGES. Get this show now.

i had a tape of this long ago---seems the hiss that was on my tape is here too-----it is just getting such a delicate treatment {the dark star, i mean}-----the hiss is unavoidable------it is a sick ass recording to listen to with da lights OUT!

a 1-5 points system does not do this justice as this will just blow the curve to hell. no long winded explanation just listen to this and get pounded with the raw energy.

The quality of this recording is simply astounding. The cymbals, maracas, snare drum, are right up front. If you are downloading this music you obviously have a good sound system. You are not gonna believe this Dark Star when you play it through some good speakers. Were Tom Constanten and Micky Hart with this band at this time? I am trying to get an ear for the difference between Pig Pen's Organ and Tom Constanten's playing. Could anyone suggest a show that highlights this difference.

... one of the finest single discs of music you'll ever find. Sound quality is superb. The Dark Star is absolutely incredible, with layer upon layer of unique jamming from around the 19-minute mark until the end. The cut hurts, but not much seems to be missing, the Stephen packs lots of punch, and this is one of the all-time powerhouse Elevens out there. Lovelight gives the perfect rave-up ending. If you don't have this, get it *now*!